do you need a special mobile fridge?
i'm planning my big trip by minivan and want a small fridge, like a dorm room fridge would a land based fridge work ok on the road (obviously plugging in only at the campsite) or would the shaking ...
Forum Discussion
I am going to describe several fridges and let you decide.. I will list only "Big names" for brands, but there are others.
Traditioal dual power RV fridge (Gas (propane) / Electric) These burn about 350 watts of AC plus a few watts of DC (Control power) if you have shore power. OR, they can replace the AC with Propane if you do not have shore power but DO have propane.. most of these are an ammonia cycle absorption cooling type. this old and proven technology.. Does have it's dangers. They are well explained elsewhere on the forum.
Mine is a Dometic.. the major competition is Norcold. Again, read the forums.
High Efficiency Electric Dual Power (12/120 volt electric only) Both Dometic and Norcold have at least one "Full size RV unit" in this class, as well as a "Chest Cooler size refrigerator/freezer" Mine is an Engel and can be set to use as a refirerator or freezer (I have it set to freeze) these power suckers draw a great 30-40 watts,, Yes, that's right 30-40 watts. A single 1141 lamp, by comparison, is about 20 watts.. In short... NOT MUCH POWER. Work great.
Residential/dorm/office fridge.. These are AC only, power consumption starts at 100 watts running and goes up as the box gets bigger.
NOTE: Many refrigerators (All but the chest type) will have one or two switches, One is an "Enviormental" switch, he other (Optional) is a Low Ambient (LAT) Temp, switch. These, if on, suck more 12 volt power. LOTS more. the LAT for examples is 20-50 watts.
Traditioal dual power RV fridge (Gas (propane) / Electric) These burn about 350 watts of AC plus a few watts of DC (Control power) if you have shore power. OR, they can replace the AC with Propane if you do not have shore power but DO have propane.. most of these are an ammonia cycle absorption cooling type. this old and proven technology.. Does have it's dangers. They are well explained elsewhere on the forum.
Mine is a Dometic.. the major competition is Norcold. Again, read the forums.
High Efficiency Electric Dual Power (12/120 volt electric only) Both Dometic and Norcold have at least one "Full size RV unit" in this class, as well as a "Chest Cooler size refrigerator/freezer" Mine is an Engel and can be set to use as a refirerator or freezer (I have it set to freeze) these power suckers draw a great 30-40 watts,, Yes, that's right 30-40 watts. A single 1141 lamp, by comparison, is about 20 watts.. In short... NOT MUCH POWER. Work great.
Residential/dorm/office fridge.. These are AC only, power consumption starts at 100 watts running and goes up as the box gets bigger.
NOTE: Many refrigerators (All but the chest type) will have one or two switches, One is an "Enviormental" switch, he other (Optional) is a Low Ambient (LAT) Temp, switch. These, if on, suck more 12 volt power. LOTS more. the LAT for examples is 20-50 watts.
